Is the kaffir lime banned in Germany?

Is the kaffir lime banned in Germany?

Where does the name kaffir lime come from?

Why the exotic citrus variety is referred to as “kaffir lime” in many European languages ​​is still an unsolved mystery. Actually, it is an offensive term, after all, “Kaffir” was a very disparaging expression for people of color, especially in colonial times. The Xhosa ethnic group in South Africa was given this name during the apartheid period. The term “kaffer” is now classified as hate speech and is therefore prohibited.

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Does the kaffir lime get its name from Arabic?

But the plant, which is very widespread in Southeast Asia, does not necessarily have to get its name from the “Kaffirs”. Instead, there is a second kind of interpretation, according to which the word was derived from the Arabic “kafir” for “unbeliever” or “village” (in the sense of “backward”). However, this derivation does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the actual meaning of the name.

Import of kaffir limes is not prohibited

Apart from the very strange name - the origin of which will probably not be deciphered anytime soon - from time to time rumors circulate on the web that the import of kaffir limes and other Southeast Asian products / goods would be prohibited. Well, lovers of Thai cuisine do not need to worry, because kaffir lime is and will remain quite readily available in times of the Internet - even if such an import ban had not yet been addressed or implemented. Kaffir limes are now also grown in specialized nurseries, whereby the trees are usually pulled from cuttings and refined on a suitable base. You can purchase such a plant from any online gardening store.

Related types of kaffir lime

Related types of kaffir lime are, for example, the Alemow (Citrus macrophylla) with its large, fragrant fruits and the Melanesian papeda (Citrus macroptera). The former is often used as a grafting base, the latter is an impressive plant with huge, shiny leaves and orange-sized fruits.

Fresh leaves and fruits are not available in supermarkets

In contrast to the whole plant, however, fresh leaves and fruits are not available in German supermarkets. At best, you can buy dried or frozen leaves of kaffir lime in specially stocked Asia shops - but only rarely there because these spices are not often in demand. The fruit peels or the fruit themselves are neither fresh nor dried in Germany - there is simply no market for them. So if you would like to cook original Thai, you basically have no choice but to purchase a small kaffir lime tree - do not worry, it is not particularly difficult to maintain.

Tips & Tricks

Instead of the leaves of the kaffir lime or its fruit peel, you can also use the leaves and peel of our commercially available lime (Key lime or Mexican lime, Latin: Citrus aurantiifolia). This is easier to get (in any supermarket). However, dishes prepared from it do not taste as aromatic as the original.